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Liga Sagres: Maritimo 1 Benfica 2

Maritimo defender Igor has gone from hero to villain in his side's 2-1 loss to Benfica, helping the Lisbon club towards the Liga Sagres title.

Maritimo defender Igor has gone from hero to villain in his side's 2-1 loss to Benfica, helping the Lisbon club towards the Liga Sagres title.

Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus conceded after the match that his side had looked nervous after going in front through a penalty from Lima and Maritimo were level at half-time thanks to a goal from Igor.

But the 24-year-old Brazilian defender cost Maritimo a point in the 72nd minute when he put the ball into his own net, which handed Benfica their ninth-straight victory in Portugal's Liga Sagres.

Benfica moved within a win of securing the Portuguese league title with their victory on Monday as they sit four points ahead of Porto with three rounds remaining.

Lima got the visitors going at Maritimo's Estadio dos Barreiros when he was brought down in the penalty area in the fifth minute and then dispatched his spot kick.

But the goal seemed to stall Benfica and Maritimo eventually equalised four minutes before half-time when Igor dived onto Briguel's right-wing cross to head the ball home.

Having given up the lead, Benfica responded in the second half and notched the winning goal in the 72nd minute when Igor turned Rodrigo's cross past Maritimo goalkeeper Romain Salin and into his own net.